Four Centuries (Damned and Cursed Book 7) (31 page)

"Let's talk about something else," she said.
 
"Did you see the wounds on Olivia?"

"No.
 
She was naked, and that was all my male brain could handle."

"Jack—"

"I'm joking.
 
Of course I saw them.
 
Puncture wounds on the neck.
 
Ten evenly-spaced lacerations starting from the shoulders, running down her back and stretching to her waist.
 
Obviously a vampire got her, or a very good impersonator.
 
You should have asked her some questions, if you're so interested."

"I don't have to," she said, sighing.
 
"I know where to go.
 
I want to look into this.
 
Care to tag along?"

"Ah," he said.
 
"That depends.
 
How much money are you getting paid?"

"Zero."

"So, then, this Olivia woman.
 
You're close with her?
 
You want to find out what happened because you care so much about her?"

"Never met her before tonight."
 
She smiled.
 
"How many times have we had this exact conversation?"

"I've lost count.
 
And I'll keep kicking you in the ovaries until you see my point."

"You can do the right thing even when there's nothing to gain."

"I guess you're right.
 
But, you kind of
proved
my point.
 
I want to
gain
something."

"Something doesn't feel right about this."

"They were attacked by at least one vampire.
 
Not much right about that."

"They weren't
attacked
.
 
They were willing partners."

"Wow.
 
It's been a long time since I've spied on you enjoying the sex thing, but that's not how I remember vampires doing it."

"Aren't you at least curious?"

"No," he said, rising to his feet.
 
"But you're going to need me to pull you out of whatever trouble you'll get in to.
 
Tiffany has school, so let's make it fast."

"Don't worry.
 
It'll be just like old times."

"I can never get enough of strip clubs," Jack said.
 
"You should have let me know we were coming back here.
 
I would have stopped at the ATM."

"Just relax, and behave."

Victoria scanned the club quickly.
 
The hour was getting late, but there was still a crowd going strong.
 
Bree remained behind the bar, serving drinks.
 
There was no sign of Tony or Heather.
 
The mortals gathering for fun and a show had no idea that not long ago a woman nearly died in the back office.

"I won't be long," she said.
 
"Stay out here and enjoy the sights.
 
I just need to talk to Tony."

Jack drifted toward the bar while Victoria headed straight for the office.
 
As she drew closer she heard quiet whispers, along with a woman crying.
 
She knocked on the door gently.

"Tony, it's me."

He opened the door as quickly as he could to let her in.
 
Locking it behind him, he gave her an appreciative smile as he turned his attention back to Heather.

Heather sat in Tony's chair, crying, while the mystery woman still sat on the floor in the corner, her gaze far away.
 
There was a mop and bucket, and Victoria could see the scene in her head.
 
Tony drifted from checking on the mystery woman, to Heather, to mopping the floor.
 
He suddenly looked far older than he actually was.
 
He gave Heather a quick hug around the shoulders as she cried, before grabbing the mop once again.

"Olivia?" he said, his voice strained.

Victoria nodded.
 
"She's going to be okay."

"Oh, thank God," he said, leaning against the wall.

"I'm sorry I threw an attitude earlier."

He shook his head.
 
"No, I'm sorry.
 
I just didn't know who else to call."

Victoria looked at Heather with concern.

"Heather?
 
You okay?"

She let out an uneasy laugh.
 
Her hands trembled as she gripped the desk.
 
She wasn't wearing much in the way of clothing.
 
Heather had wanted to perform, like she was scheduled to, but simply wasn't up to it.

"I'm okay.
 
I'll be fine."

Victoria gestured toward the mystery woman.

"Still nothing?
 
Has she said anything?"

"Not a word."

"Is she a friend of Olivia's?"

"I'm not sure.
 
I've never seen them together."

She knelt down to inspect the mystery woman.
 
The woman still wore only a bra, but Tony had wrapped his jacket around her.
 
Her eyes met Victoria's, still in a state of shock.
 
What did she see?

Victoria spent twenty minutes looking over the woman for injuries, and reviewing the story with Tony and Heather.
 
She didn't learn anything knew, but didn't expect to.
 
At least not at Tony's club.

The woman was fine, except for whatever memories she would carry with her forever.
 
The small droplets of blood on her weren't her own.

Victoria saved her final question for last.
 
It was simple, but she had the feeling it would get results.
 
She gently cupped the woman's chin and tilted her head, so they could look into each other's eyes.

"The Vermilion?"

The woman said nothing, but she didn't need to.
 
Her reaction was enough.
 
Her eyes shot open in fear as she pressed further into the corner.

"It's okay," Victoria said, stroking her hair to relax her.
 
"You're safe here."

She turned to see Tony shaking his head at the mention of the latest business in town.
 
A place where vampires and humans willingly shared themselves with each other.

"I knew that place was bad news," he said.
 
"Emma got clean.
 
She's doing a lot better, but I know she's shown others."

Victoria nodded and rose to her feet.

"I'm going to give them a visit.
 
We took Olivia to the hospital.
 
I'd do the same with her.
 
They'll take care of her."

"Shit.
 
What do I tell them?"

"Anything you want.
 
Try the truth.
 
A woman ran up to your club and she's been like this the whole time.
 
Don't mention the Vermilion, please.
 
We don't need police sniffing around my kind."

"Okay, will do.
 
You be careful.
 
I don't like that place."

"Don't worry, I'll be fine."
 
She smiled.
 
"I have my brother with me."

He didn't ask any questions, just frowned in confusion.
 
Victoria left the office, not expecting what she saw.

Jack was not at the bar, and Bree was not serving drinks.
 
The pair were laughing and talking at a table off to the side.
 
The sight was a strange one, as it typically took a long time for Jack to laugh around anyone, unless it was a young girl named Tiffany.
 
The two were drinking what appeared to be chocolate milk.
 
The more attention Jack gave Bree, the more angry looks they received from the dancers around them.

Victoria approached the duo, amused.
 
Bree's smile vanished when she noticed the minority owner heading her way.

"I'd better get back to work," she said, and went to stand.

"No, no," Jack said, grabbing her hand.
 
"You're on your break.
 
Don't go standing and saluting just because the old redhead shows up."

"I see you've met Jack," Victoria said.
 
"Are you ready to go?"

Jack downed the rest of his milk.
 
"Sure thing, just one sec."
 
He stood up, and Bree stood with him.
 
He reached into his pocket and counted out money.
 
"Bree, it is very rare that I say this, but it was a pleasure to meet you.
 
We'll get together next time I'm in town.
 
This should cover everything."

Bree's jaw dropped when Jack handed over a stack of cash.

"Jack…this is a thousand dollars!"

"Hooray, public school.
 
You might want to put that away."

Instead, she tried to hand it back.
 
"I can't take this."

"Sure, you can."

"I didn't do that to get paid."

"Just call it a tip, then."

Victoria watched with curiosity.
 
What exactly did she miss the twenty minutes she was gone?
 
Neither Jack or Bree were the type to enjoy a sexual experience in one of the back rooms.
 
She certainly didn't smell sex on them.

Jack nodded at Victoria.

"Ready to—?"

He couldn't finish the sentence before Bree threw her arms around him.
 
A pained scowl crossed his face as he reluctantly held her.
 
They had the attention of nearly half the room, despite the other sights to see.

"Okay, you can let go now," he said.
 
"Bree?
 
Anytime."

"Thank you," she said, nearly crying.
 
"Thank you so much."

"Anytime.
 
You can
really
thank me by letting go."

"Oh, sorry."

She pulled away while Jack straightened his shirt.
 
He gave her one last genuine smile before nodding toward the door.
 
Victoria and Jack walked side by side out of the club.
 
She could sense the eyes on them.

"What the hell was that about?" she asked as they passed her car.

"She asked me what I wanted to drink.
 
I told her chocolate milk.
 
She said she was getting ready to go on break, that she'd go to the store around the corner and get us some.
 
Now that's service, right there."

Victoria waited for the story to continue, and laughed when it didn't.

"That's it?"

"Yeah.
 
Well, that and the talk.
 
You know, she's actually
not
an idiot.
 
Who would have thought that?
 
A very intelligent, funny young woman, that just happens to show off her bits in a strip club while pouring drinks down mortals' throats."

Victoria shook her head in disbelief.

"There are women in there working their asses off, some of them doing things they're not proud of, for dollar bills.
 
You gave a bartender a grand for getting you chocolate milk."

"I might have gone to two for a candy bar.
 
Where the hell are we walking?"

She stopped and sighed as the flashing lights caught her eye.
 
The club that housed the Vermilion had four police cars parked in front.
 
The club hadn't been shut down or evacuated, but there was a crowd of people gathering to watch the scene.
 
She could still hear music and people inside.
 
The police were talking with a well-dressed man.
 
She couldn't yet hear the conversation, but saw money exchange hands.
 
She recognized a cover-up in the making when she saw one.

"There," she said.

She led the way inside the club.
 
Jack stayed one step back, absorbing the surroundings, like he always did.
 
Most of the mortals dancing were unaware of the police outside, but a few made mention of seeing two bloody women running through a side door.

Victoria smiled as she approached the stairs to the Vermilion and saw a familiar man wearing a black shirt with
Security
across his chest.
 
His wrist was in a cast.

"Well, well.
 
We meet again," she said.

He didn't look happy to see her, but managed a small smile.

"It's Victoria, right?"

"It is.
 
You know, I never did catch your name."

"It's Eric."

"Hi, Eric.
 
I'm very sorry I broke your wrist last time.
 
I'm sure Frank's talked to you by now.
 
I'm here to see him."

She went to move past him, and was shocked when he grabbed her shoulder.
 
Jack let out a short laugh behind her.

"I'm sorry," he said.
 
"Frank did say you were welcome.
 
But…not tonight."

His tone told her he was honest.
 
She backed up a step and casually removed his hand.

"Do you want to tell me what's going on?"

"I don't know.
 
Really.
 
Frank just said he was dealing with some problems.
 
Not to let
anyone
down."

"I'm sure that doesn't include me."

"He said anyone."

"Eric, be reasonable.
 
Please, just step aside, don't cause trouble.
 
If I really want to walk past you, do you think you'll be able to stop me?"

He smiled slightly.

"It's a little more than just me this time."

Jack laughed and took a step forward.